Along with out of print histories with have books such as Donald Stuart’s book of poems. Signed. Now only $5 reduced from $12.

This work and many others will be offered at the 2018 edition of the Heritage Fair, to be held on Saturday Feb. 24, at the Cornwall Square from 9 am to 5 pm. Only available at the SD & G Historical Society’s table.

Here is a rare copy. The many historic sites such as Inverarden Museum, listed in this book, may no longer be open making it an ideal purchase for anyone who wants to see what we have lost due to Government negligence, lack of public support and general inertia.

Along with listing former historic sites, the book talks about the Lost Villages, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the McIntosh Apple, the arrival of the Holstein Cow to Eastern Ontario, Glengarry County, the fur trade Chesterville and SD & G’s hinterland.

Only one copy: was $15, now $5.

Now $10.

This rare postcard would cost as much as $20 on ebay, it will be available for $5.

Note the Royal Bank on the left hand side.

This first day cover celebrating the official opening of the Seaway and Royal Visit will be offered for $1.

This cover with the 1984 Loyalist stamp and the Cornwall Bicentennial logo will be offered for $1.

What local library could be considered complete without this volume? At this year’s Heritage Fair for a mere $5. Really you owe it to yourself.

Please note for most of these books, stamp covers and postcards we only have one copy, so first come first served.

Also we only take cash, or cheques – not credit or debit – we are still struggling to enter the 20th century!

See Don at the SD & G Historical Society’s table at the Heritage Fair Sat. Feb. 24 from 9 pm to 4 pm.

A black and white postcard showing a section of Pitt looking north across from the old Palace Theatre during the great fire of August 7, 1933. This rare postcard will be on sale far below ebay prices at $5 at the Cornwall Community Museum’s table at this year’s Heritage Fair, Cornwall Square, Sat. Feb. 24, from 9 am to 4 pm.

An Edwardian era postcard of Cornwall’s High School.

The card is interesting but the stamp on the back may be of even more interest to the stamp collector.

The card with stamp will be sold to the first customer for only $4.

Remember all items are HST free.

1940s era postcard of the Cornwall General Hospital, 2nd St. E. $2.

The Nurse’s residence is on the right.

Did you ever wonder how Reg Kyte got into the stationary business? Learn all about one of Cornwall’s most beloved stores, in author Joan Levy Earle’s book THE LEGACY OF CW KYTE for only $20, available the the Cornwall Museum’s table at the Heritage Fair to be held at the Cornwall Square Sat. Feb. 24 from 9 am to 4 pm.

Remember we are a historical Society and take cash only, we still haven’t caught up with the 20th century, let alone the 21st!

You will find more than local Cornwall history at the Museum’s table at this year’s Heritage Fair. This second hand biography of Sir John A. Macdonald is available for $5.

1940s era postcard of the Cornwall Canal at the foot of Augustus Street. The right hand side or south side of the postcard is now occupied by Lamoureux Park. As you can see much of the present park is landfill. Cost: $2.

This is just a small selection of books, postcards and other ephemera that will be on sale at the SD & G Historical Society’s table at this year’s Heritage Fair.

Please note, for most of these books and postcards we only have one copy, so don’t delay!

Printed in 1982, this sofcover book is available at a steal for $5. (SOLD)

Visit the Sat. Feb. 24th book fair and heritage fair at the Cornwall Square, 9 pm to 4 pm.

And remember there is no tax on any books you buy!

Printed in 1999 and originally selling for $25, this lightly used copy will be for sale for $15.

This volume deals with the history of the boondoggle about the Cornwall Aces, begging the question – Is Cornwall still a hockey town; our military and religious heritage, the story of Pitt St., recreation and more.

I have often been asked if I ever wrote Vol. II. The answer is yes, the CORNWALL SCRAPBOOK, now sold out – but you can still obtain copies of my third volume THE LIVING RIVER – SECRETS OF THE ST. LAWRENCE – FROM MONTREAL TO CORNWALL TO PRESCOTT, regularly $30, but at the Fair only $27.

While I am telling you about our discounts, UNFOROTTEN MARY MACK, CORNWALL’S FIRST LADY, by Ginette Guy will sell for $13, $2 off the regular price at the Fair.

Originally selling for $25 this history will be available for $10.

Remember for many of these books we only have one copy!

Ignore the price tag – this column will be on sale for $10.

1940 era postcard of Cornwall’s first Hotel Dieu on Water St. W., only $2.

We will also have a small selection of local postcards well below ebay prices.

Watch this blog for more Fair specials!

Remember to visit the SD & G Historical Society’s table at Cornwall Square on Sat. Feb. 24th from 9 pm to 4 pm. Also remember all purchases are cash only, we are a historical society credit cards didn’t exist when we were formed!

RUNNING DOWN THE RAPIDS – an illustrated history of running the Long Sault Rapids by boat is just one of the many local histories that will be on sale at the SD & G Historical Society/Cornwall Museum booth at the Heritage Fair to be held on Saturday 24th at the Cornwall Square from 9 am to 4 pm. Cost for this slightly used copy $10.

A postcard showing the steamship “Algerian” running the Long Sault Rapids, circa 1900. The vessel was known at the “Algerian,” the “Bavarian” and the “Cornwall,” it ended its career as a tugboat.

The booklet RUNNING DOWN THE RAPIDS has photographs of more than 30 riverboats, as well as a short history of Richelieu and Ottawa Navigation Co., and the Montreal and Cornwall Navigation Co.

Steering wheel from the S.S. Filgate. The print to the right shows the vessel running the Lachine Rapids, from the Canadian Illustrated News, May 31, 1879.

The steering wheel from the Filgate was donated to the Cornwall Museum in 1972.

This vessel is one of the many shown in RUNNING DOWN THE RAPIDS, one copy only is available at the Cornwall Square On Feb. 24th, for $10.

Here is a rare local history, available at the Heritage Fair at the Cornwall Museum’s stand for only $20.

For the Heritage Fair only this book is available for $27.

The book covers local river lore, the building of the Seaway, the creation of the Lost Villages, military history and much more. Over 150 photographs, many never seen before.

Do you like antiques, but can’t afford them? This richly illustrated book written by Royal Ontario Museum curator Donald Webster, shows you some of the finest in Ontario. Printed in 1979, it has not been replaced by any other work. Well worth $20, and available along with other books at the Cornwall Community Museum’s table at the Heritage Fair, Sat. Feb. 24th, at the Cornwall Square, 9 am to 4 pm.

Recently we were paid a visit by Richard Vinet and son, whose father / grandfather operated a mom and pop grocery store / butcher shop in Cornwall. They brought us a donation of 14 relevant vintage photos.

Walter Vinet purchased the brick structure at n.e. corner of Fourth Street West at Bedford Street, taking over the F. Gosselin Market located in the west corner unit. This photo is circa 1951.

At different times the Vinet family lived beside and above the store in the complex which is home to a handful of families today. Today the units bear the addresses of 235, 237, 239 a and b and 241; all units are now residential.

Vinet sold the business to Norman McCrimmon, while the Vinets continued to live upstairs at 239 a. We see evidence of this change in the 1959 City Directory. In 1963 much of the building was vacant. Other retailers later took their turn occupying the store, including a reptile house.

Vinet also purchased the apartment building directly across Bedford Street, which is of the same architectural style and vintage; that building continues to be home to families, but the exterior has since been sided over.

Previously, for a time in the 1940’s, Vinet’s store was located on Montreal Road, visible behind this early delivery vehicle.

This photo is believed to depict the Maple Leaf Meat operation in Montreal, where Walter learned the butcher trade.

The Vinets later purchased the duplex (later triplex) at 20-22-24 Lawrence Avenue from the Viatorian Fathers, which the clerics had utilized as the beginning of what became the Classical College prior to the development at Wind Mill Point. The above photo is from our existing collection.

Your Museum and Archives is delighted to receive this photo donation and asks that you consider sharing with us any photos that you have of historic Cornwall businesses, etc.

Recently the Museum and Archives received a donation from Sue Makinson which included three St. Lawrence High School yearbooks, which had belonged to her mother, Dorothy (Anderson) McDonald.

1959

1960

1961

We are pleased to include these in our selection of yearbooks which, for St. Lawrence High School, includes 1959, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 71, 72, 75 and 2000 from both the old and new schools. We also have booklets from commencement exercises and course calendars.

These yearbooks and others from several area schools are accessible at your Museum and Archives during regular hours.

The convenience store across the street now operates under a different brand.

Further north, the car dealership at 1515 Pitt Street has been replaced by a fitness centre, which has expanded the footprint.

Right next door at 1525 Pitt, the home renovation center has been replaced by a furniture chain store.

Further along the street at 1613, the natural gas company office has been transformed into a popular dining spot.

Next door, the once popular Bob Auline chicken and rib eatery has witnessed a series of restaurants/pubs come and go. It is now home to a Thai restaurant.

Across the street, the service station has become the base of operation for an hvac company. And across Emma, while the soda shop/convenience store remains, the used car dealer is now an automobile accessory shop.

To the north of that complex, Surgeson Electric has moved to Tyotown and been replaced by a wine and beer kit store. Across Pitt Street, another tool rental company has taken over the Atlas site.

Follow this LINK to see some businesses which previously operated at the foot of this overpass.

The SD&G Historical Society colour photographs on this page were taken in September of 1989.

For those who tend to think that little ever changes in Cornwall, let’s ponder this…

Just looking at the section of Pitt Street from 11th Street to Emma/Balmoral, can you guess have many properties have experienced changes in occupancy since the 1990s?

Hope’s Garage on the n.w. corner of Pitt and 11th St W. has witnessed a few businesses come and go. Recently a chiropractic office renovated the building and relocated there.

Moving north along Pitt Street, in September of 1989 this craft shop occupied the main level of this building at 1164 Pitt Street. Subsequently a ceramics shop moved in and the siding is now grey. The plate glass window has been replaced with a lovely six light bay window.

That same year, 1170 Pitt was home to a laundromat. The building was completely transformed and later housed a finance company and a computer store.

Next door at 1180 Pitt Street the car wash was rebranded and its lot has also doubled for flower sales as well as automobile sales.

Continuing north, the strip mall at 1274 Pitt Street has experienced a complete turnover of its tenants. The computer shop was replaced by a diner. A nail studio replaced the pharmacy. A vape shop and tattoo parlor occupy the other store fronts.

The service station on the n.w. corner of Pitt and 13th St. W. has been replaced by an automated car and wash and pet wash, operated by the same owner. The house was sold to Jeff Wheeler and relocated.

The north branch of the Bank of Montreal is scheduled to soon fade into history as the Cornwall branches consolidate at a new site.

Across the street, the strip mall at 1325-1331 Pitt Street has also experienced a considerable turnover. Now known as the Pitt Street Plaza, the building is home to a walk-in clinic, connected pharmacy, as well as a florist/gift shop.

1415 Pitt is now 1418 Pitt and is still home to Rainbow Music, but the appearance has been altered somewhat. 1417 Pitt Street is now 1420 Pitt and has reverted to a residence. The addresses have been altered to align with the numbering system on the rest of the street.

Please watch for the second part of this article on the evolution of Pitt Street north.

The SD&G Historical Society colour photographs on this page were taken in September of 1989; the black and white photo is from 1953 and was shared on social media.

In 1927 A.E. Lavimodiere furrier opened shop at 33 Second Street East.
From 1929 until about 1936, A.E. Lavimodiere furrier operated out of 133 Pitt Street, situated between the New York Café and Snetsinger’s Hardware. This ad was from 1929.

A 1936 newspaper article indicates that Charles Morgan pleaded guilty to a charge of break and enter as well as theft of $1,400 worth of furs from the store.

From ca. 1936 until about 1956, 33 Second Street East resumed being the firm’s home, just a few doors west of the Nazareth Orphanage, which burned May 4, 1950. After Mr. Lavimodiere’s death, his wife Irma continued the operation.

Ever since that time the business has operated at 117 Montreal Road.

This photo from January, 2018 was taken prior to the second inventory and fixtures online auction.The building includes a second retail space to the east and apartments on the second level.

During this period Maurice E. Lavimodiere came aboard as assistant manager then manager. Maurice and his wife Hughette retired and moved to Barrie, both are now deceased.

In 1972 the business was sold and renamed Lavimodiere Furs Ltd. (1972) with Michael Remer as President and Michael’s wife Maria Remerowski as Vice President. This 1956 portrait is by Montreal’s Van Dyck Studios.

Prior to relocating to Cornwall, Michael operated the Remer Fur Co. in Montreal.

Michael Remer

Photo by Roys Studio.

From 1977.

This large poster hung in the store window promoting the business’ 50th anniversary in 1977.

By 1990 Christine Remerowski joined them as Manager / Bookkeeper and later she became owner / operator. In late 2017 and early 2018 Christine arranged for the remaining inventory and fixtures to be cleared via a series of online auctions.

This ornate industrial vault door was manufactured by Goldie and McCulloch of Galt (now Cambridge).

This manufacturer of divers products functioned from 1859 until 1927, operating from the former Dumfries Foundry which opened in 1849. The company was succeeded by Babcock & Wilcox, which is still engaged in the manufacture of power generation equipment.The vault door protects a two-storey concrete cold storage vault for furs.

Pictured here is the basement level of the fur vault.

The back room on the main level includes Ahern Safe Co. Limited cabinet vaults, which bear the name of the original furrier. Arthur Ahern’s business functioned from ca. 1880 until the late 1920s. The company was simply a distributor for manufacturers including J &J Taylor, Goldie & McCulluch as well as the Syracuse Safe Company.

This large floor safe bears the name of the original owner, N.E. Brossoit, a Valleyfield lawyer.

Lux shopping bags…

…and garment hangers.

Manufacturer’s label.

One of the various hat box styles.

These promotional matches date back to Michael Remer’s tenure.

These lovely fur garments are among the inventory items included in the second auction.

The SD&G Historical Society is very pleased to be able to help preserve the memory of several of Cornwall’s historic retailers. Donations of historic photos and other memorabilia are welcome and appreciated.